[avolve]

I picked up a 2.5" WD Passport a week ago, though this morning it will not mount.

The drive starts to spin up, stops, then starts to spin up again. I am assuming there is some mechanical failure with the drive itself? Or might it be the enclosure itself?

What are the chances of recovering data from the drive? Any tips, advice or experience regarding this?

thx

[MacDave]

Originally Posted by avolve

I picked up a 2.5" WD Passport a week ago, though this morning it will not mount.

The drive starts to spin up, stops, then starts to spin up again. I am assuming there is some mechanical failure with the drive itself? Or might it be the enclosure itself?

What are the chances of recovering data from the drive? Any tips, advice or experience regarding this?

thx

Typically, in your situation, one would put the drive into a different enclosure and proceed from there. Without knowing the exact issue, it's rather pointless to guess. Or put in other words, it may be very simple recovering the files if it's just a problem with the enclosure or quite difficult if it's the drive itself that's failing and won't power up properly.

In any event, if you don't feel -fully- confident recovering the files yourself, then don't. Take it to a service center or possibly a data recovery center to get the files off. The more the drive is tampered with, the less chances of a full data recovery.

Dave

[Huy]

Is it getting enough power? Does the cable have 2 USB plugs? (try both in).
Or tried using another USB port/machine?

Does it appear in Disk Utility?

[jimdrum]

Try a new cable first.

[decryption]

The WD Passport draws power from a single USB port only.
Try and plug it into a desktop computer, or some other USB port - it could be that the USB port you're trying it out on is foobar.

[Wally]

Sometimes you should try adding a power adapter to these WD drives.. Mine is about 3 years old and sometimes will not boot without using a power adapter and it clicks and whirs though.

So if you have a PSP or a kodak easy share camera, use that power cable because that works the same

[Rant]

Also try the manufacturer's website for recall notices or utility software that can test for such things. Did the drive come with utility software? Even the best manufacturers are having problems with their 'cheap' drives at the moment.

When you get the data off, take it back for an exchange.

[avolve]

Originally Posted by Wally

Sometimes you should try adding a power adapter to these WD drives.. Mine is about 3 years old and sometimes will not boot without using a power adapter and it clicks and whirs though.

So if you have a PSP or a kodak easy share camera, use that power cable because that works the same

Could you explain this further — the passports only have a single (micro) USB port. How can i plug in a power adapter?

I have noticed USB cords that split into two — would one of these work? Are the adapters you refer to similar?

Anyone have advice on how to get the passport to work with my PowerBook?

[reviving as looking to use the drive for different means now]

[ClockWork]

Sometimes, an External Drive that only uses (and has) one USB port, requires a Bus Powered USB Cable:



This allows one USB connection to draw power from the computer whilst the other communicates with the External Drive.

In your case, at this point in time, it is not possible to know what the problem is, as outlined by Dave in Post # 2.

[avolve]

It appears the powerbook does not provide enough power via a single USB port (it works fine with iMacs and MacBooks i have connected it to).

With the bus powered USB cables I have seen, like the on illustrated above, the cable would be too short for my Powerbook as it has 1 USB port on each side...

[ClockWork]

You'd then require a Type A USB Male to Type A USB Female extension cable.

Yet another good reason why External Drives with FireWire ports are so dang handy, be they just a tad more expensive, as the single USB versions will wind up costing the User one way or another.

[avolve]

Originally Posted by ClockWork

Yet another good reason why External Drives with FireWire ports are so dang handy, be they just a tad more expensive, as the single USB versions will wind up costing the User one way or another.

couldn't agree more — I had ordered an external f/w drive and got shafted. The WD Passport was the only last minute option

I think I may have one of those USB extensions lying around...